Antiaircraft projectile



June,,27, 1944. w M H ANTI-AIRCRAFT PROJECTILE Filed Feb. 8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z 7 T w o o oo o mo oo 0E o WE Z a O 00 0 O 0 0 O Wz'Zh amZLSmiZh Patented June 27, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTIAIRCRAFT PROJECTILE William E. Smith, Goodland, Kans.

Application February 8, 1941, Serial No. 378,040

2 Claims. (Cl. 102-89) This invention relates to the class of projectiles and pertains particularly to improvements in projectiles designed for use in anti-aircraft ordnance. The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved anti-aircraft shell or projectile, which is so designed that it will cover a relatively wide area when fired and, therefore, will be more effective in bringing down aircraft than would ordinary projectiles which require a direct hit for effectiveness.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-aircraft shell and projectile in which the projectile is made up of a number of units which scatter or spread out when fired into the air, and thus cover a larger territory than would be covered by a single projectile such as at presentv used with a consequent greater effectiveness than the single projectile.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an anti-aircraft shell and projectile in which a novel means is employed for housing the projectile in the shell so that the elements of the projectile will be maintained in a predetermined relation until the projectile actually leaves the barrel of the gun and will then be released to be scattered over a wide range.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of a form of shell and projectile constructed in accordance'with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the major part of the projectile removed from the encasing or restraining housing.

Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of the encaslng housing for parts of the projectile.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showin a modified form of shell and projectile.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view in longitudinal section of still another form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal section of a further modification.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference will first be made to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, and in these figures the shell or cartridge casing for the projectile is indicated generally by the numeral I. This casing is formed with a relatively long forward end portion 2 within which the missile is housed.

In accordance with the present invention, the missile consists of a plurality of elements which are discharged from the shell into the air and which spread out after leaving the gun barrel to cover a relatively large area, and such missile as shown in Fig. 1, comprises the forward and rear bodies 3 and 4 and intermediate bodies in t e form of chains 5 and 6. To each end of each. of the chains 6 is attached a metal ball 6'. Numerous loose shot or balls I are enclosed in the shell between the inner and outer bodies 3 and. 4, as shown. The bodies 3 and 4 are coupled to-- gether by the chain 5, the chainbeing secured! to these bodies at its ends by means of thebolts 8 and 9, or in any other suitable manner; while the ball carrying chains 6, here shown as: being two in number, although there may be: any desired numberthereof, are loose between: the bodie 3 and 4, and are arranged to extend longitudinally of the connecting chain 5, as shown. I

The outer body is provided with a surrounding shoulder l0 and the diameter of this shoulder is substantially equal to the interior diameter of the forward end portion 2 of the shell in which it snugly fits and after it is placed in position therein, the end edge of the portion 2 of this shell is turned or crimped in as indicated at ll, over the shoulder III to maintain the body in place.

The inner body 4 fits snugly in the portion 2 of the shell and functions as a wad against which the explosive force of the powder charge [2 is applied to force the missile forwardly through the gun barrel.

The outer surface of the inner member 4 is fiat and there is interposed between this flat surface and the flat inner surface of the outer member 3, the longitudinally split spacer sleeve I3, which is divided into the two portions M. The overall diameter of this spacer sleeve is approximately the same as the interior diameter of the reduced portion 2 of the shell, so that it lies snugly within the shell and forms a housing between the inner and outer portions 3 and 4 of the missile for the various chains and the loose shot.

It will be readily apparent that when the shell is rlredpthemissile will move through the gun barrel in the form of a long projectile and when it leaves the gun barrel, the portions Id of the split spacer cylinder will fall apart so that the various missiles which make up the complete projectile will be allowed to scatter and, therefore, the airplane'or other object fired at will 7 be more likely to be struck by the scattered missiles than would be the case if the projectile consisted of a single body.

In the form' of the invention shown in Fig. 5,

the shell is indicated at'l5 and, like the shell I,

it has the elongated forward end portion lg corresponding to the portion 2, but this portion I5 is of less length than the portion 2 of the shell; shown in Fig. 1. In this construction there is provided an auxiliary shell I! of cylindrical 'f'o'rm; but which is longitudinally divided and is open;

This auxiliary shell has overall diameter substantially the same as the' at its two' ends.

interior diameter of the portion l6 into which it extends at one end and'in which it is nrni y held the cylinder, the center chain 20 being connected at its ends with the inner and outer members 22 a and 23. respectively, which are the same construction as the members 3 and 4 The'ch'air'is igg' have their ends tam d to metallic balls-212T. {Eh-Q ge member. 22 has the surrounding shoulder 24 engaged.bytheinturnedor crimped ed e? i1 a i$i ia i 1 Fig. 7 illustrates another form of the inyention wherein-the cartridge Qase'oKsheIl is inf .dicated generally by thenunieral 2'5 and is pro- ,vided with the reduced forward" end portion 2'! which is snugly secure'd'an end of thelongi- .tud inally div'ided'cylindrical auxiliary shell 28 which is open at its rear end only. The forward end of this shell is rounded to forth a" semispherical nose29. Within the auxiliary shell is adongitudinally divided cylinder 30 corresponding to the spacerisleeve or cylinder I3, and ,with this a e mus d th fi lch s and th l ose Sh Z- This d v ed c li r '30 is provided for the purpose of preventing jamming atihr: s eet n lar ie fi th u a re at the inner end oft he auxiliary shell, andthe cylinder 39 is a body 33 of lead or. other suitable me a whi forms, he iwaq'iaad an e g t e powder charge in the shell.

" Fig.'3 illustrates anotherform of the mar ial wherein the casing is indicated by thenun eral -3 and the c d rw r en rortipnis n: fdicated by the numeral 35; In this fornr the reduced portion of the casing which corresponds with the portion 2 of the structure shown in Fig. l, is relatively long as shown, and in the inner end thereof is secured the heavy metal wad 36 which takes the force of the thrust developedby the powder charge which it maintains in position within the casing. -The outer end of the reduced portion 35 of the casing is closed by the nose shell '31 which has a short cylindrical portion 38 which fits tightly in the mouth of the shell. This nose 3'! maintains in place within the forward end of the shell, the missiles or projectile charge here illustrated as consisting of chains'39 andlooseshot 4 0.

In view of the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the several projectiles herein described and illustrated provide a novel and ef- -=fici entl means of bringing down airplanes or -reliablemearisof destroying such objects than is proyided by the single shot type of projectile w ere"extremeaecuracy of aim is required in ordertoT'make a direct hit;

,Whatis claimed is: 1

A cartridge, comprising a s hell casingrhaving an elongated forward endportion, a disklike b'ody secured within'said' forward end portion adjacent the inner end thereof and'formin aremm/ame wad for "maintaining a'powder' charge in thelcasing, a disc like body secured withintl' eonter end of ,theforw'ard end portion and havinganlencircling shoulder, the edge of said forward end portion being turned over said shoulder to maintain the last body in place, a longitudinally divided cylinder within the forward end portion of-thecasingbetween said bod i'es for maintaining the latter in spaced relation, plurality ofimissiles housed within the space between said bodies, said inissiles comprising sections of chain, and one of said chain sections forming a coupling meansffbet'ween'said bodies and'holding s'aidbbdia'securely in position against the ends of the'd d'cyli'nder.

2. A cartridge of the character described, comprisinga'shellcasing having an' elongated forward endportion,adiscflike'body secured within sa.id"fo-rward end p, tion adjacent the inner end thereof'and forniingfa removable wad for maintaining a powder charge in th'e casing; a disc-lilie'bodysecured within the outerencl of and having an encircling id forward end portion er' e main n t e inallyflivided 1- -ld end portion or the casst m fnta n n' t tter in spaced 'r ation; means fc nectledibtw n 'andjoiriingfth tact onlya'gainst th by, up n the shell casingth a'rate'into it 

